Exceptional Minds: Preparing for careers in animation, visual effects, 3D gaming & co.


The Stanford Neurodiversity Project needs you! If you are 18+, with a diagnosis of ADHD, Dyslexia or Autism, OR if you have served as a vocational training instructor for neurodiverse individuals, AND you are willing to take a 5-15 minute survey, please see below for details.


Many autistic young adults show an active interest and aptitude for visual arts of the sort employed in the entertainment industry. The February 5 AASCEND Job Club, will feature Exceptional Minds, a nonprofit academy and studio preparing young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in animation, visual effects, 3D gaming and related fields in the entertainment industry. Exceptional Minds provides technical and work readiness training customized to help students achieve their full artistic and professional potential. Exceptional Minds is comprised of a vocational academy, post graduate program, and professional post-production studios.

Executive Director David Siegel will present.

The Zoom meeting URL and password will be sent to people on our email list as the date approaches. No registration is necessary. If you are not on our email list, click here to sign up. 

David Siegel is a Disney veteran and advisor for media companies. His past clients have included marketing and licensing agencies, leading animation studios, Universities and technology start-ups. Siegel has advised and developed programs for The Television Academy/Emmys, Hershey, Dentsu, Panasonic, Blue Diamond, Abrams Artists Agency, Taubman Malls and others.

Siegel is an active philanthropist and social entrepreneur. In partnership with his author/philanthropist son Dylan, he helped raised $1.5MM and unprecedented global awareness towards eradicating a rare genetic disease (GSD) that promises to be cured in the next several years.

As usual at AASCEND meetings, attendees on the autism spectrum will offer their experience and perspectives throughout the program.

This should be a very interesting program. We hope to see you there!

Who: Adults on the spectrum, family, professionals and friends all welcome!

When: Saturday, Feb 5, 2022 10 – 11 am (approx)

Where: Online via Zoom, URL and password will be emailed.


The Stanford Neurodiversity Project is conducting a study on relationships between vocational training and employability and employment metrics in neurodiverse/neurodivergent individuals. 

We are looking for adults at least 18 years of age who either:

  1. Have a documented diagnosis of ADHD, Dyslexia, or Autism
  2. OR serves or previously served as a vocational training instructor for neurodiverse/neurodivergent individuals

Participation in the study will involve:

  1. Completion of an online consent form
  2. Completion of a 5-15 minute online survey questionnaire

Benefits of participating:

  • May help benefit vocational training and/or employment of neurodiverse/neurodivergent individuals

To enroll in this study, please go to https://redcap.link/ajm4y4bo

For more information, please email stanfordneurodiversityproject@stanford.edu or call (650) 498-9392

For participant’s rights questions, contact 1-866-680-2906

Beat the Blahs! Stroll the Embarcadero with AASCEND: UPDATE

…and a grand time was had by all!

About 23 AASCEND members in front of the Willie Mays statue at Giants Stadium in San Francisco

Continuing AASCEND‘s fierce push-back against dreary pandemic confinement, we’ll all meet in person 10:30am Sat Jan 15 in front of the SF Ferry Building for a walk together along the beautiful and interesting Embarcadero, heading toward China Basin. The open air and masks will keep us safe from Covid and give those who want to a chance to talk. Again, we’ll meet at 10:30am this Saturday, January 15, in front of the San Francisco Ferry Building Clock Tower, on the street side (—> on the map). The meeting time is good for people arriving by ferry from Marin. Bring a lunch or a snack. The weather looks to be partly sunny with highs in the upper 50’s and only light winds. Dress accordingly. Let’s beat those pandemic blahs! Come revel together by the beautiful waters many autistic people enjoy.

Who: Adults on the spectrum, family, professionals and friends all welcome!

When: Saturday, Jan 15, 2022 at 10:30am

Where: Ferry Building, San Francisco (See above for details. —> on map)

Introducing Inclusively, a Firm Serving Job-Seekers with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions

At the January 8 AASCEND Job Club, we will hear from Inclusively, a tech-centered employment platform for jobseekers with disabilities. Inclusively’s brings together diverse people from various disability and employment communities, to drive inclusive hiring and best practices among employers who are committed to helping employees succeed from the start, based on their unique skills and required accommodations.

Inclusively currently counts 20,000+ jobseekers among its registered Candidates and ~40 Employers, from Accenture, Dell, Microsoft, and Salesforce, to small and medium companies across a growing number of sectors. You can get more information and register for free as a jobseeker at inclusively.com.

The speaker will be Meghan Smithgall, leader of Inclusively’s Strategic Partnerships team that seeks ways to better serve jobseekers and those who support them.

The Zoom meeting URL and password will be sent to people on our email list as the date approaches. No registration is necessary. If you are not on our email list, click here to sign up. 

Before joining Inclusively, Meghan consulted on program development for various women’s leadership and arts organizations, and she ran the Center for Health & Humanitarian Systems at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. In her early career, she spent 3 years in Madrid, Spain earning an MA and working for various arts organizations. Meghan is deeply committed to mental health advocacy, self-discovery and growth as someone with ADHD and an eating disorder. She resides in Atlanta, GA.

As usual at AASCEND meetings, attendees on the autism spectrum will offer their experience and perspectives throughout the program.

Who: Adults on the spectrum, family, professionals and friends all welcome!

When: Saturday, Jan 8, 2022 10 – 11 am (approx)

Where: Online via Zoom, URL and password will be emailed.